Intel has made an unprecedented decision to provide some of its core processor technology to a newly established semiconductor startup.

The recipient of this technology transfer is RosaicLabs, founded this year, and it is reported that the company's CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel's CEO, and the startup's executives have had a long-standing relationship through joint investment activities.

Intel's substantive opening of x86 architecture-based technology, which has been considered its core competitive advantage, to an external company is a rare case, attracting attention to the possibility of strategic changes in line with the AI era.

▲ Intel Provides Core Processor Technology to RosaicLabs

According to Reuters on the 30th (local time), Intel has allowed RosaicLabs, a semiconductor startup founded this year, to use some of its processor technology.

Intel declined to make official comments on the matter, but the technology provision became known through company incorporation documents and testimonies from people familiar with the matter confirmed by Reuters.

RosaicLabs established a corporate entity in Delaware in May this year and appears to be an early-stage private semiconductor startup with no official homepage or LinkedIn profile yet disclosed.

▲ Lip-Bu Tan and CEO, Long-time Investment Partners

RosaicLabs' CEO has been confirmed to be Amarjit Gill, a semiconductor industry executive and venture investor.

Gill was a key figure who formed the founding team of AI semiconductor startup Rivos with Lip-Bu Tan in the past. Rivos was acquired by Meta last year, and although Intel also pursued an acquisition at the time, Meta succeeded in acquiring it by offering a higher price.

At the time, Lip-Bu Tan served as the chairman of Rivos' board.

The two are known to have participated together as early investors in Nuvia, a CPU startup acquired by Qualcomm.

Industry analysts noted that this collaboration is not merely a technology licensing agreement but a strategic partnership based on a long-standing investment network.

▲ Intel's Core 'Atom Technology' Opened

The technology Intel is providing is reported to be Atom processor technology.

Atom is core technology that constitutes Intel's x86 architecture-based low-power central processing unit (CPU). Due to its low power consumption and minimal heat generation, it is primarily used in mobile devices and edge computing devices.

Intel has not broadly licensed x86 architecture or Atom technology to external companies in the past.

This case is being evaluated as a rare decision by Intel to provide some of its core CPU technology to a startup.

Intel[Reuters/Yonhapnews provided]

▲ Even RTL Code Provided…Custom Chip Development Possible

Intel is reportedly planning to provide RosaicLabs with Register Transfer Level (RTL) code for the Atom processor.

RTL is core design code that defines the functions and operations of a chip during the semiconductor design process.

Industry experts evaluated that RTL code provision goes beyond simple technology usage permission and means broad access to Intel's intellectual property (IP).

By utilizing this, clients can design their own customized processors based on Intel technology.

A semiconductor industry official explained that providing RTL code is a method that grants customers a significant level of design freedom.

▲ Multiple Rivos Alumni Join as Founders

It is reported that multiple personnel from Rivos have participated as founding members of RosaicLabs.

Amit Pariuk, who served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Rivos, is confirmed to have signed the incorporation documents directly.

With semiconductor experts who previously worked with CEO Lip-Bu Tan coming together again like this, observations have been raised that a new AI semiconductor development project is being pursued.

▲ Intel's Strategic Change in Line with AI Era Draws Attention

This collaboration was interpreted as an example showing that Intel's business strategy is changing after the Lip-Bu Tan era.

In the past, Intel maintained a closed strategy of directly controlling the x86 ecosystem. Not disclosing core technology externally was key to maintaining competitiveness.

However, as the AI semiconductor market expands rapidly and demand for custom chips increases, the possibility of strategically opening some core technologies has been raised.

In particular, given the rapid market expansion of NVIDIA, AMD, and Arm-based processors, Intel's attempt to expand its ecosystem by broadening the scope of x86 technology utilization was also interpreted as such.

▲ $10 Million Seed Investment Underway

RosaicLabs recently submitted amended corporate documents to Delaware and disclosed its capital structure.

According to Reuters' analysis, the company has established a structure to pursue seed funding of approximately $10 million.

Additionally, it has set up internal authority to execute capital expenditures of less than $5 million without investor or board approval.

This was interpreted as securing operational autonomy to enable early-stage R&D-focused semiconductor startups to proceed with design and development rapidly.